Daily Archives

March 9, 2018

I recently wrote a piece for Collective Hub on productivity and what to do when you just can’t seem to get anything done…

“I don’t know about you, but I can go through days of feeling unproductive… days. And it only seems to get worse the harder I try to work things out. I’ve recently discovered that the best thing for unproductiveness is to stop. Yep, just stop. And I’ll tell you why…

So often we get stuck in this spiral of being unproductive because we just can’t see past the problem. When we stop, take a break, and step back from the day to day, we can come back with fresh eyes and a new perspective, ready to tackle our problems head on.

Getting clarity of what you need to do and your next steps is so important in business and your career. My tip? Go home. If you can’t do that, go for a walk. Clear your mind of all your worries, pressures and concerns. Do something that has nothing to do with work, take your shoes off, get distracted by it all, and soon your mind will begin to feel free and you can start the day over.

As business owners, we often get caught in this trap of thinking that we must be working all the time. Well, that’s just not the case. Working in over time can cause serious burnout, which will ultimately bring on the unproductiveness. Even when you think you cannot afford to take a break, or you think that the business will collapse without you (it won’t), make time for yourself. Trust me, I learnt this the hard way. I was once forced, literally forced, to go on holiday and it was the most refreshing time. I came back full of ideas and a clear vision on where the business needed to go.

Try sharing your problem. You know that old saying, “A problem shared is a problem halved”? I am a big believer in it. You might think that no-one would ever understand. Well, they might not, but what’s the harm in trying? Find a mentor (we have plenty here at Think BOLD) or someone in your industry you can vent to. You never know, an outsider’s insight may just be the answer you need!

So next time you feel stuck and can’t see past your problem, go away, do something that calms you. Whether it’s praying, walking or whatever it is you do, do it. Seek advice where you can and soon enough you’ll reset and start to see that vision again with new creative ideas to help navigate your way through.”